the creative sparks, breadcrumbs, and twenty-six letters of Wendy Hudgins

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Traditions and 'Try'

A -C R E A T I V E -S P A R KA few years back I decided to try a new recipe and take it with me to my family in Atlanta. Pumpkin Bread. It was actually pretty tasty. My thinking was this — while our traditions at the holidays are nice and comforting — someone had to actually start them. Someone baked green bean casserole for the first time. Or Pawley's Island Pie for the first time. So why not try one new dish each year or so and see if it flies? Well, last night I had nearly 20 people over to my home to close out this year. It was a wonderful chance to be together with good friends, welcome in new ones, and get prepared for Christmas just one week from today. We shared our favorite Christmas memory. We revealed our favorite holiday song. And we also tried new dishes. Mine was a red velvet cake, a la 'cupcakes' [PHOTO]. Okay, so they looked just fine and it was the first time I'd ever made a cake and icing from scratch, but they were heavier than a fruitcake*... well, if you don't try you won't know.